20131211-2013.12Reports

AIRPROX REPORT No 2013089
Date/Time: 24 Jul 2013 1015Z
Position:
5212N 00137W
(Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield
- elevation 159ft)
Airspace: Wellesbourne ATZ (Class: G)
Reporting Ac
Reported Ac
Type: PA18 R44 Helicopter
Operator: Civ Trg Civ Trg
Alt/FL: NK 5-10ft
NK
NK
Weather: NK VMC CLBC
Visibility: NK 10km
Reported Separation:
10ft V/50m H
Recorded Separation:
NR
Not seen
PART A: SUMMARY OF INFORMATION REPORTED TO UKAB
THE PA18 SUPER CUB PILOT reports she was an instructor on a training flight at Wellesbourne
Mountford (Wellesbourne) airfield. The R44 was on final approach to Heli landing point "Whiskey"
whilst her PA18 was on final approach to RW18 grass. Both aircraft’s instructors had called "Final"
for their respective landings; the trajectory of the R44 should normally have been outside the
protected zone for fixed-wing traffic. As her PA18 aircraft approached the threshold and commenced
the flare, the R44 deviated from the helicopter circuit and flew in a descending profile directly over
the grass RWY ahead of her; the R44 appeared to reduce forward velocity and continued to descend
such that there was no opportunity for her to go around. Continuing the ground roll on the grass
RWY could have resulted in the PA18 passing underneath the R44, or striking it if it descended
further. The pupil in the PA18 therefore started to steer the aircraft to the left to exit the grass and to
avoid the helicopter. She then took over, steering the PA18 through a gravel margin onto the main
RW. A ground-loop to the right ensued, with the PA18 re-entering the grass RWY through the gravel
trap once more. She regained sufficient control to pick up the left (down-going) wing approximately a
foot above the ground, thus avoiding potential serious damage to the aircraft. The PA18 was brought
to a halt pointing 180° from the initial landing direction.
THE R44 PILOT reports that the blue and silver helicopter had strobe lights illuminated and was
squawking Mode C. She was supervising a Proficiency Check local flight from Wellesbourne airfield.
Her candidate had been given a simulated emergency and a final call was made for helicopter
aiming point Whiskey. However, the candidate did not make an approach directly to Whiskey, he
made an approach to the hover ¾ of the way up the grass that runs alongside the west of RW18.
She did not hear a fixed-wing aircraft call final for RW18, and therefore did not realise there would be
a conflict. The candidate came to a hover taxi and continued a short distance to turn left down the
grass to aiming point Whiskey, moving clear of the RW. At this point she was unaware that an
Airprox had occurred. As the R44 approached Whiskey, the FISO contacted her informing her to
make a radio call if she needed to use the grass alongside RW18. Within her report she commented
that she had flown from Wellesbourne not only through her training but also as an
instructor/examiner. As the UK AIP does not indicate a grass RWY at Wellesbourne, and never
having experienced the grass area being used as a RW, she did not expect fixed-wing aircraft to
land on it. The FISO said he had tried to get her attention but thought his transmission may have
been ‘stepped on’ by other aircraft.
R44
CPA 1015
Diagram based on pilot reports
Not to Scale
Point ‘Whiskey’
PA18
RW18 Grass
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